October 29, 2026

Baby shower invitation wording, with samples for every kind of shower

What to put on a baby shower invitation, sample wording from sweet to funny, lines for a sprinkle, a couples shower or a gender reveal, and when to send it.

A baby shower invitation is one of the friendliest to write: everyone’s happy, and the tone can be as sweet or as silly as the parents-to-be. It still has a few jobs. Here’s what to include, sample wording you can borrow, and the timing and etiquette questions that come up most.

What to include

Who it’s for: the mom-to-be, both parents, or a family welcoming a new baby.
Who’s hosting, so guests know who to ask.
Date, start time and end time. Most showers run two to three hours.
The address, plus parking notes.
How and when to RSVP, with a date about a week to two weeks before.
The registry, if there is one. It’s fine on a shower invitation.
The baby’s name or the sex, only if the parents are sharing it.
Anything special: a theme, a book instead of a card, a diaper raffle.

When to have it, and when to send

Many showers happen four to eight weeks before the due date: late enough that the pregnancy feels real, early enough that the parent-to-be is comfortable and the baby isn’t early. Send invitations four to six weeks before the shower.

Some families prefer a “sip and see” after the baby arrives instead. The invitation for that reads more like a visit than a party.

Sample wording: sweet and simple

A little one is on the way! Please join us for a baby shower honoring [Name], [day], [date] at [time], at [place].

With love and excitement, we invite you to a baby shower for [Name] and [Name] as they welcome their baby boy.

Oh, baby! Join us to celebrate [Name] and the newest member of the family, [date] at [time].

Sample wording: funny and casual

[Name] is about to be outnumbered. Come shower the family with love (and diapers) on [date].

Snacks, games and tiny socks. Join us for [Name]’s baby shower on [date] at [time].

Ready to pop! Celebrate [Name] before the baby arrives, [date] at [place].

Bring a pack of diapers for a chance to win the diaper raffle, and your best parenting advice.

Sample wording: a sprinkle

A sprinkle is a lighter shower for a second or third baby, when the family already has most of what it needs.

Baby number two is on the way! Join us for a little sprinkle for [Name], [date] at [time].

Just a sprinkle: help us welcome baby [Last name] with lunch, laughs and a few essentials.

Sample wording: a couples or co-ed shower

Join us for a co-ed baby shower honoring [Name] and [Name], with a backyard barbecue, games and a toast to the parents-to-be.

Diapers and drinks: a couples shower for [Name] and [Name], [date] at [time].

Sample wording: a gender reveal

A gender reveal can be its own party or the big moment at a shower. Keep the wording playful and make sure the reveal moment has a time, so guests don’t miss it.

Boy or girl? Come find out! Join us for [Name] and [Name]’s gender reveal on [date] at [time]. The big reveal is at [time].

Bows or bow ties? Pick a team and wear your color: pink or blue. [Date] at [place].

We can hardly wait to find out, and we want you there when we do.

Lines for the practical parts

Registry: “[Name] is registered at [store or website].” One short line is enough.
Books for baby: “Instead of a card, please bring a favorite children’s book, signed inside.”
Diaper raffle: “Bring a pack of diapers (any size) for a chance to win a prize.”
Advice: “Come ready with your best advice for the new parents.”
Kids: “Little ones are welcome!” or “This one’s just for the grown-ups.”
Surprise: “It’s a surprise! Please don’t mention it to [Name].”

For advice and wishes, letsparty’s Ask for a note to keep collects each guest’s note with their RSVP, ready to print as a keepsake for the parents.

Who hosts?

Traditionally a close friend hosted and the family stayed out of it, so it didn’t look like they were asking for gifts. That rule has relaxed. Mothers, sisters, friends and coworkers host showers today, often together. What still holds: the parents-to-be usually don’t host their own, every host’s name goes on the invitation, and one person is the contact for questions.

Who to invite

Close family, close friends, and the people who’ll be part of the baby’s life. Coworkers often have their own shower at work. A couples shower invites partners too; a traditional shower may be just the women in the family, which is the parents’ call.

Wording tips

Use the names the parents use, and leave the baby’s name off unless they’ve announced it.
Write the date with the day of the week.
Put the reveal time on a gender reveal invitation, so nobody arrives after it.
If you’re asking for something specific (books, diapers), say it once, kindly.

The free wording ideas tool has more lines for showers.